New York City • 2025
Brooklyn Bridge, Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, World Trade Center, Flatiron Building, Grand Central Station, Times Square, The Summit One Vanderbilt, Dumbo, the Vessel,the 911 Memorial, B&H Photo and a lot more
Dates: October 13th-19th, 2025 optional helicopter ride
7 days • 6 nights Group size • 5-7 people • $3,400 plus hotel
This will be one intense photography workshop capturing NYC from high and low all over!
The Big Apple!
In October 2025, I’m thrilled to run another intimate and exciting photography workshop, taking a small group of just 5-7 participants to some of my favorite and most iconic locations in New York City. This electrifying city has so much to offer, and I can’t wait to share how I capture its magic through my lens.
I specifically chose October for its cooler weather and fewer tourists compared to the summer, making it one of the best times of the year to experience NYC. The city’s architecture is absolutely stunning, and we’ll use subways, Ubers, taxis, and even ferries to navigate between locations, ensuring we explore it from every angle.
The small group size will create a dynamic to make the most of every moment. NYC has energy and excitement running 24/7. We’ll embrace that energy throughout the workshop, capturing the spirit of the city at its best.
Stunning Architecture
Each day, we will set out from our stylish boutique hotel, conveniently located near Times Square, Grand Central Station, and right next door to the Empire State Building. Armed with our gear and tripods, we’ll explore various locations, aiming to capture every iconic spot this one-of-a-kind city has to offer. Having photographed New York extensively, I know some of the best locations for incredible shots, from early morning light to the vibrant cityscapes after dark.
On the first morning, before heading out, we’ll gather in a beautiful meeting room for a one-hour session to review the key locations we’ll be visiting. This meeting will provide a clear overview of the workshop logistics, including the lenses recommended for specific shots and the travel plans for each destination. We’ll also discuss the itinerary in detail and preview examples of the shots we’ll aim to capture.
After dark in NYC!
We will also be shooting often after dark as this city never sleeps and the architecture is intoxicating. Shooting the taxis in traffic in Times Square with long shutter speeds is one amazing experience. Grand Central Station day & night is also one incredible place to shoot with vantage points all over & another great place to experiment with motion blur/ long exposures.
There is also an Apple Store right in the station and we can shoot the non stop movement of the crowds below right from balcony of the store. We will walk the length of the famous High Line Railway, shoot car trails by the Flatiron and even shoot in the iconic JP Morgan Library that is just breathtaking. And of course all over Dumbo, my favorite area to shoot in all of NYC. This will be a photographers paradise for that special week.
Shooting high and low
I will be working individually with each person in the field each day, pushing you to master your camera and settings for every kind of situation. We will go over all kinds of settings that best capture this unique city and also explore shooting from high above New York in the best high rise skyscrapers!
We will shoot from atop the new spectacular Summit One Vanderbilt which is insanely gorgeous, the top of the Empire State Building and also on top of Rockefeller Center. These three high rises offer stunning views of NYC from high above and they are my three favorite high rise locations to shoot NYC from high above! We will also try capturing panoramas from our tripods and our mini tripods too in great locations wherever possible
.
Gonna be one fun time!
The food in NYC is incredible, and we’ll be exploring it as a group—from grabbing classic slices at Ray’s Pizza to dining at cool and fun restaurants. This workshop will have a relaxed structure, allowing us to adapt each day based on the weather. October is an ideal time to visit, offering beautiful conditions for photography.
Keep in mind that October can be quite cool, especially in the evenings, and there’s always a chance of showers in New York City. Be sure to pack rain gear; the hotel also provides umbrellas for guests.
For shooting, we’ll use a range of lenses, from wide-angle to telephoto, so bringing a good assortment is key. With a small group of just 5–7 students, you’ll receive personalized instruction, and transportation and logistics will be much simpler. There won’t be much need for long telephoto lenses, so feel free to leave those at home if you prefer!
Logistics
Workshop date and time
7 days • 6 nights • October 13th-19th • 2025
The workshop begins at 9am on Monday, October 13th, 2025 and ends on Sunday, October 19th, 2025 after breakfast. This will allow people ample time to fly home.
We will meet in the lobby of our hotel, the Executive Hotel Le Soleil New York at 9am on the first day of the workshop. After our meet & greet, we will all move to a beautiful meeting room to go over all of the details for the workshop.
A cool Boutique Hotel
I have secured a special room rate of $369 plus tax, which is a great deal for this fantastic hotel, as it is close to half price than normal for that time of the year. Unfortunately, hotel prices in NYC are notoriously high, but this discounted rate is excellent for the quality and location. I’ll send everyone a link to book your room at the discounted price. Please note that you’re responsible for making your own reservations.
Having stayed in numerous hotels across NYC, I can confidently say this hotel is exceptional. They treat me and my groups like gold, and I wouldn’t choose anywhere else for my workshops!
Getting There
The Executive Hotel Le Soleil New York is conveniently located near Times Square. Any of the three major NYC airports—JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark—will work, as the hotel is easily accessible from all of them. While trains are available, the simplest option is to take an Uber or a taxi but almost any flight into NYC will be fine.
IN THIS WORKSHOP — WE WILL COVER:
• Great locations & compositions all throughout New York City
• Wide angle versus panorama photography
• HDR handheld panoramas
• HDR photography in different lighting situations
• How to remove unwanted people
• Understanding what gear to use for a particular shot
• Shooting after dark including long exposures, architecture, subways, and more
• Slow shutter speeds/ motion blurs to capture people and cars in motion
• Creating images with impact
• Using a mini tripod where a regular tripod is not allowed
• Using a rubber collapsible lens shade to reduce reflections in glass
• Street shooting all over in different areas of NYC
• Learn how to do Panoramas & Vertical Panoramas
• Post processing sessions in the conference room
Workshop Limit
Workshop Details
The workshop is limited to 5-7 participants to ensure a personalized, small-group experience across various locations in NYC.
Skill Level
Participants should have a solid understanding of camera operations, including familiarity with f/stops and shutter speed. This workshop is designed for intermediate to advanced photographers looking to refine their skills in street photography, architecture, night photography, panoramas, composition, and advanced camera techniques. If I feel this workshop may not be the right fit for your skill level, I will let you know, as a strong foundation is essential.
Fitness Requirements
Street photography in a bustling city like New York involves extensive walking. While we’ll frequently use subways, ferries, Ubers, and taxis, you should be prepared for long days on foot. Ferry rides across the Hudson River will offer incredible views, but navigating city streets can still be physically demanding, with uneven terrain and occasional potholes. Please come ready for the challenge!
Registration
1. To register for the New York City 2025 workshop or for more information, please contact us here. After you fill out the registration, I will send you a detailed letter with tons of info on the workshop and also what to bring.
2. Next, I will let you know how to make your reservations at the hotel and when it’s time to book your flight. You need to arrive at least one day early for the workshop, on October 12th, so we will all be set to meet at 9am on the morning of October 13th, 2025.
If you are taking the optional Helicopter ride over NYC, then you need to arrive two days early on October 11th, 2025 so you are all set for the October 12th Helicopter ride.
Cost
The cost for the workshop is $3,400 which is only a little more than my last four workshops in NYC but prices have gone up everywhere. The workshop will include location scouting all over New York, instruction day & night, helicopter instruction if you go up in a helicopter and photography & Photoshop instruction at the hotel along with some critiquing.
I will work with each person individually to make sure you are composing & capturing the best images possible from every location.
There will also be another 2 hour meeting in the gorgeous hotel boardroom, focusing on Photoshop. I will show tons of techniques and ideas to make your New York City images even more powerful! This will be very informative and we will also go over photo gear and camera settings for different situations when shooting in locations like New York City.
Items not included are: Lodging at the Executive Hotel Le Soleil New York, entrance fees to all locations including all of the high rises and transportation in and around NYC. We will eat as a group at restaurants or fast food places and be able to continue photography discussions. You can see a typical room in the above photo.
Optional helicopter flight
Shoot from high above NYC
For a select few people, there is an option to fly above NYC from a choice of two helicopters. I have shot from both of them and absolutely love shooting NYC from high above. And of course the only way to shoot is with the doors off to get the most amazing shots from so many great vantage points all across New York.
This is something I can discuss with you personally to let you know what it is like, what gear is needed and what to expect. To book a flight is not cheap as this is a serious company with professional flights unlike others that book typical tourists. But it is like no other view in all of New York City and they are the best!
When is the helicopter shoot
The shoot would be on Sunday, October 12th, 2025, the night before the workshop starts. We will take an Uber or private limo to the airport in White Plains NY as this helicopter company is the most professional in all of NYC.
Movie studios who shoot in NYC, use their pilots and helicopters more than anyone else as they get you to just about anywhere you want at whatever time you want. I am very fussy about what I want to capture when I am up in the air and they work with me in every way possible.
There are only a few spots available so I will need to know who wants to do this as soon as possible. It is one amazing experience!
Gear needed for the Helicopter shoot
Typically, using a single camera is the easiest approach. While shooting with two cameras is possible, it adds complexity. If you’re extremely careful, you can change lenses mid-flight, but it’s not for the faint of heart. In my opinion, the most crucial feature for helicopter photography is Image Stabilization (IS). Cameras with in-body stabilization, like many new mirrorless models, are ideal. However, having a lens with excellent IS is just as important.
For lenses, my top recommendation is a 24-70mm f/2.8 with IS, which offers great versatility. A longer lens, like the new Canon 24-105mm f/2.8 IS, can also work well. Don’t worry too much about gear right now—as long before the flight, we’ll discuss everything you need to bring or rent. We’ll rent any necessary equipment on the morning of the flight from my favorite rental shop since Adorama Camera Rentals is now further away. If you already own the right gear, you won’t need to rent anything.
Helicopter Options
The company we’ll be flying with operates two types of helicopters:
Robinson R44 (less money)
Smaller, slower, and bumpier, but incredibly fun.
Eurocopter AS350 A-Star (more money)
Larger, more luxurious, and pricier—imagine something James Bond would fly.
Both have their unique advantages and drawbacks, which I’ll explain in detail to help you decide before booking. Below, you can see the “James Bond” A-Star on the left and the Robinson R44 on the right.
This workshop will be one non stop adventure with tons of fun, shooting & eating
I LOVE NYC!!!!
